SOcial MEdia's 'SO ME' Should Be 'SO WE'

Several weekends ago, I delighted in a visit with my Godsister’s occasionally shy young son. After complimenting his snazzy duds and planting a peck on his cheek, my heart was instantly warmed when his little mouth sang appreciation.   

Research continues to record communication trends stacking textersation and Social Media consumption against old school talk. Aptly nicknamed ‘So Me,’ Social Media has managed to resurrect the ‘Me Decade’ which I once mistook for death like 80s disco. What is increasingly becoming a forgotten expression are two of the most important words in the English language – Thank you.         

With all of its utilitarian good, technology’s unleashing of mannerless monsters mark a ‘disconnect’ in the intended connection. Since media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest were designed with social in mind, the ‘all about me’ vibe is wickedly ineffective. In order to maximize ‘social,’ you’ve got to get over you.

A negative impression is planted anytime a Twitter account holder, whether a swag-heavy marketing expert, global corporation or regular Joe Blow, neglects to acknowledge follower and non-follower comments. Granted, the Twitterverse timeline is Big Apple packed in rush hour traffic so occasional oversight is forgivable.

However, you’ll shift your ‘me’ to ‘we’ gears if you abide by the manner-molding words of Brit Morin, CEO, Brit + Co: “Your audience wants R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It’s important to respond to literally every tweet, Facebook message, and so forth. It shows users you respect them – and then they start evangelizing for you.”

Rather than hurl how-to tips on getting your manner groove on, observation of the white-gloved etiquette of a few peeps will lend an enormous clue. On Twitter, check out Boom Social CEO Kim Garst @KimGarst. Her timeline is always polished with thank you(s). Your assignment is complete when you post a comment on the blog of leadership guru, Mark Sanborn, at http://www.marksanborn.com/blog/. As a first time visitor, I received ‘Thanks Shari’ via iPhone after leaving a comment. Nice touch!      

Everyone might be going social but social is best when done with a side of supersized manners.                         

    

Confessions TV: Matters Not if Lance Comes Clean

Of all the human frailties for which Americans harbor mountainous disdain, lying and cheating achieve the Mount Everest peak. On Thursday, all eyes will be glued to Lance ‘Liar liar pants on fire’ Armstrong who will pedal the media cycle for a shot at public redemption. So, when silence fails, Oprah’s your girl, right?

Dialogue is potent enough to lend reinvention to a company, brand and career, but in the tainted case of the multiple Tour de France champion whose performances were accessorized with the continuous spin of doping denials, rebranding won't be an easy feat.   

Admission without authenticity cannot conquer arrogance, which I suspect swelled due to the medicinal aids that delivered Armstrong athletic superiority for years. Sure, we love our sports heroes through the thick of drug addiction, domestic violence, and even manslaughter, but for liars and cheaters, our tolerance is thin.      

If a lying Lance lusts for the limelight to reignite a high-octane athletic career under the guise of making peace or professing guilt, some will forgive but few will forget. Why should we be duped into buying what will likely amount to another Armstrong bag of damaged goods? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. 

The charitable cancer foundation contributions aside, the once popular yellow bracelets hailing “Live Strong” have left the duplicitous message that only the weak cheat. Yet, like you, I’ll tune in not to endorse the scoundrel, who on countless occasion manipulatively violated our trust, but because it’s Oprah, still the reigning queen of talk TV.